FREE SUMMER CHESS LECTURE/SIMUL WITH SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD
GRAND MASTER ROBERT HESS AT THE CHESS AND CHECKERS HOUSE IN CENTRAL PARK

New York, NY – September 9, 2009 -- The Central Park Conservancy, New York City Department of Parks &Recreation and Pegasus Media Productions announce the Final Free Summer Chess Lecture/Simul Series” on Sunday, September 20th with Grandmaster Robert Hess, 17, from 1:30pm-3:30pm at the Chess and Checkers House in Central Park. This event will also incorporate the 7th Annual Youth Tournament (Game 40) beginning at 10:00m-12:00pm. This chess series – June, July, August and September – featured monthly lectures by Grandmasters and influential chess personalities. Following the lecture with Grandmaster Robert Hess, at 12:00pm, Hess will conduct a “Simul” (simultaneous chess play, wherein he will move from board to board, making one move at time). The Simul will be available for the first 25 registered participants. Space is limited and registration is required. To register, visit: www.crossgenerationchess.com.

At the tender age of 4, Grandmaster Robert Hess, 17, was introduced to chess by his father, Carl. Since Kindergarten, he has been studying with Grandmaster Miron Sher. Hess won 1st Place in the K-3 Super Nationals Championship in 2001 and the Bronze Medal at the 2002 Pan-American Boys U-12 in Argentina. Hess continued to succeed earning International Master Norms in the 2005 Paris Championship, 2006 Las Vegas Masters and the 2007 Cannes Open. Hess also competed in the 2005 World Youth Boys U-14 and was the 2006 U.S. Junior Champion.

While attending Stuyvesant High School, Hess received his International Master title in 2007. He was Co-Champion at the 2008 Foxwoods event and earned his 1st Grandmaster Norm. Hess was the 2009 SPICE Spring Invitational Champion, earning his 2nd Grandmaster Norm. In April 2009, at Foxwoods, Hess earned his 3rd Norm to become Grandmaster – Elect! He also was 1st Place in the 2009 Super Nationals K-12 Section with a 7-0 score and finished 2nd in the 2009 U.S. Championship. Hess was the captain of the Junior Varsity Football team in 10th grade at Stuyvesant and is an avid fan of all sports. In his free time, he enjoys just being a teenager, hanging out with his girlfriend, friends, and family. He prides himself as being a normal teenage boy, just having less time than most. Hess’ winning strategy: “The psychological aspect of chess may be my strongest point. You cannot think how a win will affect your tournament result. Only think about one game at a time, and not how a result will help or hurt you. It is okay to win, lose, or draw a game. It happens. You cannot get stuck on a result. ” He will be competing in the World Cup in November and planning on applying early to Yale University where his sister is a sophomore and his father is an alumnus. Currently, Hess is in his senior year at Stuyvesant and resides in New York City with his parents, Carl and Carol, sister, Alex and brother, Peter.
About the Central Park Conservancy
Since 1980, the Central Park Conservancy has worked to manage and maintain Central Park, in partnership with the public and the City of New York.
About the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
Parks & Recreation is the steward of almost 29,000 acres of land--14 percent of New York City--including more than 4,000 individual properties ranging from Yankee Stadium and Central Park to community gardens and Greenstreets. We operate more than 800 athletic fields and nearly 1,000 playgrounds. We manage four major stadia, 550 tennis courts, 52 public pools, 48 recreational facilities, 17 nature centers, 13 golf courses, and 14 miles of beaches. We care for 1,200 monuments and 22 historic house museums. We look after 600,000 street trees, and two million more in parks. We are New York City’s principal providers of athletic facilities. We are home to free concerts, world-class sports events, and cultural festivals. For more information about Parks, visit our website: www.nyc.gov/parks.About Pegasus Media Productions
Pegasus Media Productions, Inc. is a company that promotes non-profit chess events, produces televiseion musical events, radio and children’s programs. Pegasus is focused on promoting community-based projects for positive initiatives, changes and building a more harmonious, civil society.